Man Who Shot CHP Officer Gets Life Term

A Thousand Oaks teen-ager who led two California Highway Patrol officers on a high-speed chase through Canyon Country, finally shooting and wounding one of them, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison.

San Fernando Superior Court Judge John P. Farrell, in sentencing Steven Charles Brigida, 19, recommended that he seek psychiatric treatment while in prison. Brigida, who pleaded guilty June 10 to two counts of attempted first-degree murder, has a long history of psychiatric problems, authorities said.

“You can make use of this time in prison . . . and try to do something to control your impulsiveness that has proved extremely dangerous to society,” Farrell said.

On Oct. 14, 1987, just before midnight, the two officers said they spotted a motorcycle driven by Brigida speeding on the Golden State Freeway north of Castaic. A check of the cycle’s license plate showed it had been stolen, and the officers began what turned into a 20-mile chase, Deputy Dist. Atty. Kenneth A. Loveman said.

Thrown Off Cycle

When Brigida was thrown off the cycle after hitting a log, he began running, authorities said. When the officers ordered him to stop, he fired a shot at them, hitting Officer David Zielsch, 31, in the face, authorities said.

Brigida then fired a second shot, according to court records. Zielsch’s partner, Thomas N. Tillman, said he felt a blast of air by his head and was about to return fire when he heard Brigida yell: “I’m only 18! I’m only 18! Don’t shoot me,” the records show.

Tillman then wrestled Brigida to the ground and took a .22-caliber handgun away from him, the court documents show.

Zielsch has since recovered and is back at work. Tillman was not hurt.

Brigida’s attorney, Charles E. Lloyd, said his client is very intelligent, “more intelligent than 98% of our population,” but has had psychiatric problems and has abused drugs since he was young.

Help Urged

“He’s dangerous, no doubt about that,” Lloyd said. “But if there ever was a case where a person was in need of some psychiatric help, I think this case screams for it.”

Brigida told authorities he did not know why he tried to outrun the officers.

In December, 1986, Brigida had led Ventura County sheriff’s deputies on a 2 1/2-hour automobile chase through residential streets and thick brush. He was arrested and charged with auto theft, hit-and-run driving, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest. He was sentenced to 120 days in Ventura County Jail and four years probation in that case.

In the latest chase, Brigida was also charged with receiving stolen property and driving without an owner’s consent, but the charges were dropped in the plea bargain.

Brigida will be eligible for parole in about nine years, Loveman said.